"It's worth it." Wake Sheriff says weapons detection systems could be useful tool to keep schools safe
Three guns were found on Wake County School campuses in February alone, continuing a post-pandemic trend of threats and weapons at a place where parents trust someone else with their child's safety. That same upward trend is playing out across the country.
Several school systems in North Carolina are turning to high-tech alternatives to detect weapons before they get into classrooms. To this point, Wake County, the state's most extensive school system, is not among them.
"It is alarming. It is something we cannot allow to continue," Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe told WRAL Investigates about the recent gun and threat incidents that have plagued local schools in recent weeks. That includes a loaded AR-15 rifle confiscated at Millbrook High School basketball game in Raleigh last month.
Newly released state data clearly shows a problem in Wake County schools. Eight guns were found on campus last school year, which is up 60% (5 found) compared to pre-pandemic numbers. 442 weapons led to disciplinary action against students last year. That is up 130% compared to the 2018-19 school year, the last full year not disrupted by Covid.
With growing concerns about school safety, WRAL Investigates first reported on Johnston County's ongoing plan to install weapons scanners at every school. Unlike metal detectors, artificial intelligence scanners reduce lines by identifying weapons in a free-flow manner while letting things like phones and keys pass through.
Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, similar in size to Wake County, have scanners at all high schools and multiple middle schools. Following the installation last year, weapons found in schools dropped dramatically after dozens of confiscated guns led to the investment in additional security.
Guilford County, home to Greensboro and another of the state's largest school districts, also installed weapons detectors. In December, the scanners flagged a gun at Dudley High School. In January, school officials were alerted to a loaded gun in a student's backpack at Ragsdale High.
Guilford County school leaders have praised the system, saying any additional layer of security is welcome. Wake Sheriff Willie Rowe agrees, "I advocate for every tool that can be utilized to keep Wake County safe."
Based on Charlotte's spending, Wake County could equip all high schools and multiple middle schools for about $15 million over four years. That is less than 1% of this year's $2 billion school budget.
At that cost, Sheriff Rowe told WRAL Investigates it is a good investment the first time a gun is detected. "It is worth it," he told us.
In an email received today, Wake County said commissioners, who provide a large portion of the school system budget, have "not received any requests for funding for metal detectors or any security-related facility enhancements. If any such requests come before the board through the annual budget process or another channel, our commissioners will thoroughly review the requests and decide at that time."
A new security audit on Wake schools did not suggest the installation of weapons scanners. The superintendent and school board leaders have declined WRAL's repeated requests for comment about parent safety concerns. In declining our requests, a school spokesperson said commenting on threats leads to copycat incidents.
While trying to work with school leaders, the sheriff believes that weapons detection can complement school resource officers, provide better training to identify threats, and have real consequences for offenders. "Holding people accountable and make sure they understand the seriousness of what they are doing because they are disrupting our daily activities, they are instilling fear and terror," Sheriff Rowe said.
Research shows that scanners consistently catch guns, but they must be foolproof. Audits conducted at sports venues show the devices sometimes missing large knives. WRAL Investigates spoke to the co-founder of Evolv, which supplies most of the scanners recently installed in our state. He said they constantly update software to improve detection and reduce false alarms.
If detection becomes a deterrent, Sheriff Rowe thinks the scanners have promise, "I think that is a great tool, and everything has to be considered. There is no price we can place on safety."
